Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/916449
9 Nominations Open: WEA Awards Will Recognize Leaders in Education Great ings Happen Everyday Every year, the Wyoming Education Association Board of Directors reviews nominations for various awards to honor those who make positive contributions to the WEA and/or Wyoming public education. Following is a list of award categories to recognize these special people. Recipients will be honored during the WEA Delegate Assembly in April. Nomination forms are found on the WEA Website at: wyoea.org/awards/, and are due no later than January 22, 2018. For more information, contact WEA Executive Administrative Assistant Julie Schwindt, (800) 442-2395 ext. 103, jschwindt@wyoea.org. The Gold Key is the most prestigious award conveyed by WEA. It is given to a member who has dedicated his/ her life to education and service to the association. It is presented for extraordinary service that has contributed to the professional development of WEA and to the enhancement and advancement of education in Wyoming. A nominee must be an active or retired member of the WEA and shall be sponsored by a local affiliate. The WEA National Foundation for the Improvement of Education Award (NFIE) is presented to a member who demonstrates instructional expertise, creativity and innovation; advocacy on behalf of public education, students and education employees; community service; and commitment to professional development. The recipient of this award will be WEA's nominee for the National NFIE Award, which will be given at the NFIE Gala in Washing- ton, DC. The Education Support Professional of the Year Award will be presented to a WEA member whose activities reflect the contributions of education support professionals to public education. The purpose of the award is to recognize an ESP member who demonstrates outstanding accomplishments in his/her profession; community service; and involvement and leadership in the Education Association at the local, state and/or national levels. The award recipient will be WEA's nominee for the National Education Support Professional of the Year Award, which will be given at the 2018 ESP Conference. The Harriett "Liz" Byrd Award will be presented to a member or friend of education, individual or group, for out- standing contributions in the areas of human relations, multiculturalism and/or diversity in the field of education within the state of Wyoming. The Byrd Award honors work to promote collaboration and harmony among diverse groups. The Green Apple Award will be presented to members who contribute to environmental awareness. They will be recognized for the creativity of their project, its connection to education, the involvement of students, and benefits for students and the community. The Wyoming School Bell Award is presented to a representative of the news media for outstanding coverage of education news and issues. The award is an expression of appreciation for excellence in the field of news media pertaining to education in the state of Wyoming. The Friend of Education Award recognizes a person or persons who do not work in education, but who have demonstrated evidence of exceptional service to educators, schools, and children of Wyoming.